Automatic circuit closer



May 22, 1923. 1,456,027

' J. MACKINTOSH AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Aug.124-, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. MACKINTOSH AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Aug. 24, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

May 22, 1923.

May 2'2', 1923.

J. MACKINTOSH AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER 3 sheets sheet 5 Patented May 22, 1923.

UNITED STATES JOHN MACKINTOSH, OF PAISLEY, SCOTLAND.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application filed. August 24, 1920. Serial No. 405,662.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN MAOKINTOSH, of 28 Whitehaugh Drive, Paisley, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Circuit Closers (for which I have filed an application in Great Britain August 6, 1919, Serial No. 3,142), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical steering gear or other electrically driven engines that require to be reversed.

In applying the invention to steering gear any suitable method may be employed to connect the rudder to the driving gear, in which a tiller is keyed to the vessels rudder stock at one end and is connected at the other end through springs or otherwise to a toothed segment working in guides. Gearing with this toothed segment is a spur pin ion keyed toa spindle which also carries a worm wheel which gears with a drum cut in or mounted upon a worm shaft.

In carrying out my invention, I fit on the worm shaft two electro-magnetic clutches or one double electro-magnetic clutch, the actuated discs or disc of which are keyed to the shaft, the actuating disc or drum and rings running loose on same. The actuating disc or drum and rings of one clutch or of one member of double clutch are driven by means of a motor or other drive in one direction, those of the other clutch or of the other member of the double clutch being driven by the same or another motor or other drive in the opposite direction. The motor or motors may be connected to the actuating discs by means of toothed wheels or otherwise.

The actuating discs are magnetized one at a time by means of a switch conveniently mounted. This switch may have two contacts and a moving finger, the latter actuated by means of a hand wheel or in any suitable manner from the steering position and arranged so that when placed in the in po sition relatively to one or other of the con tacts one or other oi the magnetic clutches comes into action and the rudder is driven through the gearing and tiller or other means of connection in one predetermined direction or the other. It is understood that magnetic clutches have already been used for similar purposes and they are not claimed as new. Whatis claimed is the special type of switch and hunting device now to be described.

The various parts of this are mounted or connected to some moving part oi". the steer- .ing gear or part moved by the steering gear so that when the rudder has been moved through a certain angle determined by the angular movement of the steering wheel or corresponding motion of any suitable de vice at steering position the combination of parts returns the moving finger to the out position, where it remains until further motion into one of the in positions is again imparted to it from steering station.

The action may proceed until the maximum rudder angle is reached in either direction continuously or otherwise in accordance with the motion imparted to the moving finger.

The arrangement may be disposed to drive winch or capstan barrels or drums or other parts requiring easy reversal.

In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into effect, I have hereunto appended three sheets of drawings, showing a possible arrangement, of which F igure 1 is an elevation partly in section.

Figure 2 is a plan.

Figure 3 is a larger scale sectional elevation of the switch and its gear.

Figure 41 is a large scale plan of switch and its gear.

Figure 5 is a detail of moving finger and means of actuating same.

Figures 6 and 7 show spring arrangement for centering moving finger.

Figures 8 and 9 show two additional positions of switch.

With references to Figures 1 and 2 the tiller T is keyed or otherwise fixed to the rudder stock R. The. tiller is connected by means of springs or otherwise to the toothed segment S. which works in guide G. Spur pinion P is keyed or otherwise fixed to spin dle N and gears with the toothed segment. The worm H is also fixed to spindle N. It gears with'worm V on shaft A. Keyed orotherwise fixed to shaxlt A are the actuated discs D and D of the magnetic clutches l and M Spur wheel B and R are cast or otherwise fixed to the actuating discs 0 and C of the magnetic clutches.

The-actuating discs'run' loose on shaft A 3 other spur wheels R R and to a motor shaft E of motor 0 IVhen the steering gear is working, motor 0 runs continuously, say in a clockwise direction, driving spur wheel R and consequently actuating disc 0, through wheel R" and wheel It in a clockwise direction also. Actuating disc C is driven by wheels IF and R, in a counter clockwise direction.

Figures 3 and 4 show in detail a switch and connected parts by means of which a rudder may be moved in any direction and to any required angle. The principal parts are two in number, of which a carrier piece Q move about a centre in the axis l the rudder stock. Its movement may be controlled from the steering position by means of a segmental toothed rack Y formed upon it, with which gears a pinion Z, carried in bracket 9, the pinion being rotated in either direction from the steering station. The movement of Q may also be controlled by telemotor or other suitable means. Its movement is limited as to extent by the stopper piece U, which is fixed relatively to the rudder stock and may he used to centre Q. In Figures 3 and at it moves upon pin PP. Mounted on Q or connected to it is a moving finger F. This may be in two parts For convenience in insulating it electrically, the part F being thus insulated from the other switch parts and the part F not so insulated. The part F would then carry the current supplied by the motor for actuating the magnetic clutches and would be so connected to the motor as to get only the current sullicient for this purpose. The fulcrum X of the moving finger F is at the end next to the centre of the rudder stock and is carried by pin X screwed into or otherwise fixed t Q. The moving finger has also a secondary fulcrum carried by pin X the motion of which is determined by the slot CO in quadrant b which forms a part of the stopper U.

lso mounted upon Q are two electrical contacts V and V each formed of two contact strips of such a distance apart that the moving finger is held between them until pushed out by motion of the quadrant 7). The contacts are insulated electrically from the carrier Q and connected electrically. one to the one magnetic clutch and the other to the othersay that electric current passing from the motor through V magnetizes clutch M and that current passing from the motor through V magnetizes clutch M The stopper piece U is arranged to regulate the motion of the moving finger F about its fulcrum pins-X and X. For this purpose it may have cast with it or connected to it a. quadrant piece 7) having cut in it a slot C shown in detail in- Figure 5. The pin X forming the secondary fulcrum of the finger F moves in this slot and may have a block (Z (Figure 5) or similar device fitted to and moving with it to reduce wear on pin. An electromagnet e or other device may be fitted to assist in quenching the spark occurring when the moving finger leaves either of the contacts or the necessary parts may be arranged to work in an oil bath.

Figures (3 and 7 show an arrangement of springs that may be titted to bring the moving finger F to mid position relatively to Q immediately it is released from either of the contacts. and to keep it there until it is moved into contact again by the steersman. In this arrangement r and r are springs anchored at their inner ends. IN and IN", to the carrier piece Q by means of uprights such as III, and free to extend outwards from these uprights. These springs are arranged one on either side of the moving finger. Attached to each side of the moving finger at SF and SI. is a spindle. t and t which is threaded through the springs r and r and beyond them through guides GU and (H7 On each of these spindles is formed a loop or other projection. e and '0 These loops engage with the outer ends V and IV of the springs. in such a manner that motion of the moving finger to either side of the central position extends the spring towards which it is moving by means of the projections on the spindle on that side. while the spindle on the other side withdrawn through its springs so preventing the spring on that side from having anyfurther action upon the moving finger.

The arrangement of the apparatus described and shown in the drawings operate a ships rudder as follows The motor is started up and kept running. which keeps the actuating discs and rings of the electro-magnetic clutches running loose on shaft A in the direction a] ready indicated and shown by arrows. The stcersman. from the steering station and. through any suitable means of control. rotates through any desired angle within the limits prescribed, by the stopper piece. the pinion Z. which rotate the carrier Q about its centre. Suppose the rotation of Z continued. moving 0 say to the right (Figure 4.) downwards (l igure 2) until (Figures 4 and the right hand sirl of the block ll touches the right hand side of the slot C. The extent ot this motion. and the spaces between the moving finger and the contact may be arranged to suit the sensitiveness required for steering. Up to this point the moving finger retains its position relative to the 'carrier Q but as the rotation of the pinion Z is continued the moving finger, being unable to follow further and maintain its central posit-ion, the block (I beingnow against the righthand side of the slot C incarrier, turns upon its secondary fulcrum X moving the point of the finger to the left and between the two members of the contact V The maximum movement of the carrier Q relatively to the stopper U has taken place when tne side m of Q, butts against the sides a of U. The point of the moving finger is then in its full position relatively to the left hand contact V This position is shown in Figure 8.

As soon as the'moving finger touches contact V the electric circuit is completed to n'iagnetic clutch M the actuating members of which are running loose in a clockwise di rection upon shaft A. Disc D fixed to shaft A, is gripped, and the shaft is driven so that the top in Figure 2 moves to the right the tiller, rudder and stock (Figure being driven in a clockwise direction. The stopper U thus moves downwards (Figure 2) to the right (Figure at) the moving finger remaining in position shown in Figure 8 until stopper piece has moved, relatively to carrier piece, a sufficient distance to bring the let side of the slot C against the left hand side of block d. The position then becomes that shown in Figure 9. Current is still continuing to pass to clutch M and the motion of U relatively to Q, continues, the moving finger being now pushed to the right of the action of the left hand side of slot C until it is released from the contact V when the electrical circuit is broken, shaft A ceases to revolve, and the parts driven by it, in eluding U, cease to move. The parts will remain in the position now reached until further movement of the steering wheel.

Should the motion of the steering wheel be such as to move the carrier to the left, clutch M is magnetized and shaft A is driven in the opposite direction. Until the moving finger touches one or other of the contacts neither of the clutches is magnetized and the shaft does not revolve in either direction.

If the stecrsman continues to rotate the pinion Z so that the carrier Q is moved to the right (Figure l) downwards (Figure 53) the tiller continues to move in a clock wise direction, carrying the rudder. rudder stock R and stopper U, fixed to R, with it and continually permitting further motion of Q.

At whatever position he stops the motion, the motion of Q; and fulcrum X also ceases, but the tiller and stopper piece still. carry on in the same direction as already described until the left hand side of the slot comes up against the left hand side of the block (Z, the point of the moving finger being held until then between the two members of the contact. Further motion of the tiller and consequently of the stopper piece U push the point of the moving finger out from between the two members in the contact. Suppose the moving finger just about to leave contact V the spriu on its left hand side (1 in Figures and 7) is extended and the spring on the right hand side is normal. the spindle t and the projection upon it, v beivithdrawn inside it a distance equal to he movement of the finger F to the left of its central position. Immediately the moving finger leaves the contact V spring 7* in regaining its normal length, returns the finto mid position and ceases to have any further effect upon it. The momentum of the finger however, tends to carry it further, lut immediately it passes its central position the projection on spindle t engages the outer end of spring r and begins to extend it, thus damping further movement and obviating any chance of its swinging over in the opposite direction and touching contact V which would reverse the motion of the shaft A. and parts driven by it without corresponding movement of the hand wheel.

Claim:

A movable member, spaced electric contacts carried thereby, a switch finger pivotally mounted on said movable member for movement between and to either of the contacts, yieldable means to normally hold said finger out of contact, and means to limit the extent of movement of said movable member and to also move said finger into contact with one of said electric contacts according to the direction of movement of said movable member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MACKINTOSH.

lVitnesses Ono LIDDLE, JOHN TRAIN LIDDLE. 

